The rankings for the 2017 season take account of FEI competitions from 1st October 2016 to 30th September 2017. The highest-ranked Irish Sport Horse in the individual WBFSH rankings was Cooley Cross Border (ISH), bred by Johnny Duffy from Co Louth and ridden by Kim Severson (USA). Cooley Cross Border (ISH) was winner of the CIC3* at this years Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and was also runner-up in the CCI3* at Millstreet in Co Cork.

“We are delighted that the Irish Sport Horse Studbook has won the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) leading Studbook award again in 2017. I would particularly like to congratulate the breeders of these six horses, Johnny Duffy (Louth), Kathryn Jackson (Monaghan), John Fitzhenry (Wexford), Noel Hickey (Limerick), and Marian Tighe (Leitrim) on their achievement in breeding such successful event horses.”

Horse Sport Ireland interim Chairman Jim Beecher added:

“This is a great tribute to Irish breeders and their commitment to breeding the performance horse. They have done it year in year out often for limited reward. Despite our success to date, we will have to continue to raise our game, as competition from other Studbooks is increasing every year. We have great raw material and intensifying our focus on the breeding goal will help us to remain competitive in the international arena.”